Dodge 2000 DURANGO Service Manual page 38

2 - 14 SUSPENSION
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
SUSPENSION COMPONENTS 4x4. . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SHOCK ABSORBERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
TORSION BARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
STEERING KNUCKLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SUSPENSION ARMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
STABILIZER BAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
LOWER BALL JOINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
UPPER BALL JOINT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SHOCK DIAGNOSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
SHOCK ABSORBER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
SUSPENSION COMPONENTS 4x4
DESCRIPTION
The front suspension is designed to allow each
wheel to adapt to different road surfaces indepen-
dently. The wheels are mounted to hub/bearings
units bolted to cast steering knuckle. The double-row
hub bearings are sealed and lubricated for life. The
steering knuckles turn (pivot) on ball joints. The
upper ball joint is riveted to the outboard portion of
the suspension arm and lubricated for life. The lower
ball joint is pressed into the lower suspension arm
and requires lubrication.
The front suspension is comprised of (Fig. 1):
• Shock absorbers
• Torsion-bar springs
• Suspension arms
• Steering knuckles
• Stabilizer bar
CAUTION: Components attached with a nut and
cotter pin must be torqued to specification. Then if
the slot in the nut does not line up with the cotter
pin hole, tighten nut until it is aligned. Never loosen
the nut to align the cotter pin hole.
CAUTION: Suspension components with rubber/
urethane bushings (except stabilizer bar) should be
tightened with the vehicle at normal ride height. It is
important to have the springs supporting the weight
of the vehicle when the fasteners are torqued. If
FRONT SUSPENSION - 4x4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
TORSION BAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
STEERING KNUCKLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
LOWER SUSPENSION ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
UPPER SUSPENSION ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
STABILIZER BAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
HUB/BEARING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE CHART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SPECIAL TOOLS
FRONT SUSPENSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Fig. 1 Front Suspension 4x4
1 – UPPER SUSPENSION ARM
2 – SHOCK ABSORBER
3 – STABILIZER BAR
4 – LOWER SUSPENSION ARM
5 – TORSION BAR
springs are not at their normal ride position, vehicle
ride comfort could be affected and premature bush-
ing wear may occur.
NOTE: Periodic lubrication of the front suspension/
steering system components may be required. Rub-
ber bushings must never be lubricated. Refer to
Group 0, Lubrication And Maintenance for the rec-
ommended maintenance schedule.
DN
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